Heating and humidifying static eliminating apparatus



Dec. 13, 1966 E. s. BROWN, SR 3,292,043

HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING STATIC ELIMINATING APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' E verefr .5. Brown Sr.

INVENNHL Allurnejs Dec. 13, 1966 5. BROWN, SR

HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING STATIC ELIMINATING APPARATUS Filed March 24, 1964 2 Shets-Sheet 2 E were 5. Brown 5(- INVEN TOR.

BY QM United States Patent 3,292,043 HEATING AND HUMIDIFYING STATIC ELIMINATIN G APPARATUS Everett S. Brown, Sr., 1620 Westminster Place,

Mexico, Mo. Filed Mar. 24, 1964, Ser. No. 354,256 1 Claim. (Cl. 317-2) This invention relates to apparatus and the method involved therewith for eliminating and preventing accumulation of static electric charges on paper stock being fed through paper feeding machines such as printing presses and paper folding machines.

In connection with the feeding of paper stock by means of rollers or the like in different'types of machines as aforementioned, a particular problem arises because of the accumulation of static electric charges on the paper impeding smooth movement thereof. The static electric charges accumulated on the paper stock occurs as a result of frictional contact between the paper and metallic parts of the machine through which the paper is being fed. Facilities have heretofore been provided in connection with the aforementioned problem so as to eliminate the static electricity by various means including the passage of the paper stock through a heated atmosphere. However, prior solutions to the problem have not met with the same degree of success achieved by the apparatus and method of the present invention because of several disadvantages of prior methods. Some of the disadvantages inherent in the prior art solutions to the problem involved the danger of fire which arise when elevating the temperature of the paper stock and the accumulation once again of static electricity, after the paper is treated for removal of the static charge.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide facilities for both removing and preventing accumulation of static electric charges on paper stock being fed through machines of different types such as printing presses and paper folding apparatus.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the aforementioned type wherein no danger of fire arises.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the apparatus of the present invention involves the passage of paper stock through a zone Within which it is treated by an atmosphere of air which is both heated and humidified. Static electric charge accumulated on the paper is thereby removed and the paper moistened to a sufficient degree so as to subsequently prevent the accumulation of any static charge. In this latter regard, it will be appreciated that 90% of the ingredients utilized in the manufacture of the paper is water so that during the manufacturing process, no static electricity is accumulated as long at the paper is maintained in a moist condition. Only after the moisture in the paper has been removed does static electricity accumulate thereon. Accordingly, by replacing some of the moisture while eliminating the static charge accumulated, subsequent accumulation of static electricity is prevented and the danger of fire minirnized,

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the present invention shown connected to a paper feeding portion of a machine with which the apparatus is associated, the machine being shown in section.

Patented Dec. 13, 1966 FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 3-3 in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 44 in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is a partial section of view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section lines 6-6 in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an electrical circuit diagram associated with the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that the apparatus of the present invention generally referred to by reference numeral 10 is connected to a paper feeding portion 12 of a machine such as a printing press or paper folding device. Accordingly, paper stock 14 fed by the rollers 16 and 18 of the machine portion 12 will carry the paper into a treating zone 20 within which the paper stock is exposed to an atmosphere of air which has been controllably heated and humidified. Any static electric charge accumulated on the paper is thereby removed and the paper moistened so as to subsequently prevent accumulation of static electricity thereon. The heated, and humidified air is supplied to the zone 20 by means of an elongated discharge tube 22 which is provided with a plurality of axially spaced slots 24 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 1 and 5, the slots being inclined in the direction of flow through the tube 22 so as to discharge the heated and humidified air entering one axial end of the tube. The air is therefore supplied to the discharge tube through a flexible conduit 26 so that the apparatus 10 may be mounted and connected in accordance with varying installational requirements. 1

Referring now to FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4, it will be observed that the flexible conduit 26 is connected to the upper outlet 28 of an upwardly converging hood 30 mounted on top of a tank 32 within which water 34 is stored. The surface 36 of the water is maintained at a substantially constant level by means of a level sensing float actuator 38 connected to a level control Valve 40 through which water is admitted into the tank discharging from the spout 42. The level control valve 40 is therefore connected to a water inlet conduit 44 provided with a pressure regulator valve 46 and a pressure gage 48 disposed on the outside of the tank 32.

A liquid heater 50 is mounted in the wall of the tank 32 and extends into the tank below the level of the water 34 so as to elevate the temperature of the water in order to accelerate evaporation thereof. A thermostat control 52 is associated with the liquid or water heater 50 and mounted by the wall of the tank for exposure to the water so as to regulate the temperature to which the water is elevated by the heater. Also mounted by the wall of the tank 32 in vertically spaced relation above the heater 50, is an air heater 54. The heater 54, however, is disposed above the level of the water 34 and in the path of a flow of air laden with moisture received from the surface 36 of the water. The moisture laden air is therefore heated as it rises into the upwardly converging hood and its flow thermally augmented by the position of the heater 54. The temperature to which the air is heated is regulated by a thermostat 56 mounted on the hood for exposure to the air so as to control operation of the air heater 54. A temperature gage 58 is also mounted on the hood so that the temperature of the moisture laden air may be read.

A forced flow of air passing over the surface 36 of the evaporating water is produced by means of a blower assembly 60 mounted on the wall of the tank 32 in spaced relation above the surface 36 of the water. The blower assembly accordingly includes a tubular housing 62 one end of which is provided with an inlet 64, the housing mounting a fan motor 66 to which the flow inducing fan blade 68 is connected. The flow of air into the tank is downwardly directed over the surface 36 of the evaporating water by means of a deflector 70. One end 72 of the deflector is therefore fixedly anchored to the tank just above the blower assembly and extends downwardly therefrom toward the surface of the water so that air will pick up the moisture from the water before it rises through the air heater 54 as more clearly seen in FIGURE 3.

Also mounted on the tank 32 is a fan motor switch 74 projecting from a panel on which a pair of pilot lamps 76 and 78 are mounted, said pilot lamps providing .an indication of the operative condition of the blower assembly, and the heaters 50 and 54 respectively controlled by the thermostat devices 52 and 56 which are also respectively exposed to the water 34 and the air within the hood 30. Referring to FIGURE 7 therefore, it will be observed that the heaters 50 and 54 may be connected to electrical power lines 80, 82 and 84 upon closing of a main switch 86 which may also be mounted on the wall of the tank 32. The pilot lamps 76 and 78 are therefore connected respectively across lines 80 and 82 and lines 82 and 84 in order to indicate the operative condition of the electrical circuits. When the main switch 86 is closed therefore, current will be supplied to the air heater 54 through the normally closed switch of thermostat 56 in order to begin heating the air Within the hood 30. A parallel circuit will also be closed to energize the coil 88 of the magnetic switch 90 thereby closing a power circuit across lines 80 and 84 for the water heater 52. The temperature of the water will therefore be elevated by the heater 50 to a predetermined value at which point the heater circuit will be opened by the switch of the thermostat 52. When the temperature of the air within the hood is at the proper value as indicated on the temperature gage 58, the fan switch 74 may be closed in order to complete an energizing circuit for the fan motor 66 in order to begin a forced flow of air by rotation of the fan blade 68. A forced flow of air heated and humidified by a regulated amount may thereby be supplied through the flexible conduit 26 to the discharge tube 22 within the zone 20 of the paper feeding aparatus. Since the motor 66 is connected in parallel with the heaters 50 and 54, it will remain energized when either of the thermostat switches opens to deenergize a heater. Thus, air is continuously supplied to the treating zone 20 as the heaters are intermittently energized under control of the thermostats to maintain a predetermined air temperature and moisture content without interruption of the air flow. A thermal overload switch 92 may also be provided in the energizing circuit for the fan motor.

From the foregoing description, the construction, operation and utility of the apparatus of the present invention and the method associated therewith will be apparent. It will therefore be appreciated, that the success of the static eliminating method of the present invention is attributable to both the temperature and moisture regulation of the atmosphere supplied to the paper treating zone by forced airflow means. The air is therefore humidified in a regulated manner by passage over the surface of water within the tank maintained substantially at a constant level for this purpose and at an elevated temperature so as to accelerate evaporation thereof.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

Apparatus for supplying a static eliminating atmosphere to a treating Zone through which paper stock is being fed comprising, a liquid containing tank, heating means for elevating the temperature of the liquid in the tank to accelerate evaporation thereof, forced airflow means for producing a continuous flow of air over the surface of the evaporating liquid, air heater means disposed in the path of said flow of air when laden with moisture from the evaporating liquid surface for elevating the temperature thereof, flow conducting means for directing said flow of air laden with moisture onto the paper stock within said treating zone and means for regulating the temperature of the moisture laden air and the quantity of moisture carried therewith for respectively removing static charges from the paper stock and preventing subsequent accumulation of static charges after leaving the treating zone, said forced airflow means comprising a blower rotatable about an axis disposed in close parallel spaced relation to said surface of the liquid, defiector means fixedly mounted above the blower and extending downwardly therefrom in the direction of airflow toward the surface of the liquid, and means for maintaining said surface of the liquid at a substantially constant level within the tank, said air heater means being mounted in parallel spaced relation to the surface of the liquid within the tank adjacent to a lower end of the deflector means, said fiow conducting means comprising an upwardly converging hood mounted on the tank having an outlet through which the moisture laden flow of heated air passes, an elongated tube mounted in parallel spaced relation to the paper stock within said treating zone having a plurality of spaced discharge slots from which said flow of air emerges, and flexible conduit means connecting said outlet of the hood to the elongated tube for supply of the moisture laden, heated air thereto.

' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 341,788 5/1886 Arnold 3l72 X 391,788 10/1888 Rossney 3l7-2 X 553,713 l/1 896 Hopkins 3172 X 1,169,428 1/1916 Rogers 3172 X 2,059,408 11/1936 Stark 26115 X OTHER REFERENCES Silsbee, F. B., Static Electricity, Circular of the National Bureau of Standards, C438, 1942, US. Govt Printing Office, page 20.

MILTON O. HIRSHFIELD, Primary Examiner.

STEPHEN W. CAPELLI, SAMUEL BERNSTEIN,

Examiners.

J. A. SILVERMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

